Stoves Genus Stainless Steel Electric Double Oven

We got the Genus 900 brand new in 2009. It takes a bit of getting used to. Maybe we've been lucky reliability wise. It's extremely useful in the Genus quick cook mode. Bread is very quick to make with it. You have to pay attention to the temperature & time suggestion sheet as some settings work better than others, so need either temperature or time adjustment or both. You get to know what is needed eventually but we keep our crib sheet hung next to the cooker for quick checks. Occasionally we get caught out by something we've not done before (I ruined a bit of Xmas pud in the re-heat function, too long & too hot I think!) Re-heat works better for veggie pizzas than the pizza setting, so worth experimenting.

Electro-Mechanically it is a bit flakey... we've had no door problems unlike some, neither have we broken or melted the control "button" (the actual word is banned on this website!) anyway this is an incremental "button" as found on some delicate hi-tech equipment & I did wonder if it would last, right above the top oven/grill door but it's survived ok. The circuit board is also still the original.

BUT.. cooker always switches right off when power is even slightly interuppted (power-cuts or fuse box off) & then has to be re-booted & it takes ages to go through self test, flashing lights & often stalling half way through. Usually we turn it off & wait 10 mins to start again & keep trying - it can take half a dozen goes before it settles, bit of a pain but doesn't often happen. It also has a VERY NOISY fan! My sis has a Zanussi & you can hardly hear the fan, this thing we call the Lancaster Bomber & have to whack the radio up... I called service & was pretty much told "they all do that sir". Cheap parts or bad design?

The main thing is it all still works. Can't recommend as it's no longer made & I wouldn't get another even if it was due to many people's problems with them

Not many problems with this oven that I have had over 5 years. Door open aspect fixed quickly and no prob since. Circuit Board just blew now but have a warranty. Do these things have a timer to blow after warranty expirses? Genus aspect takes takes getting used to and tends to dry out food if not careful; just use a roasting bag. Overall genus good but does not work if used with an anti-spill cloth on the bottom.

Not many problems with this oven that I have had over 5 years. Door open aspect fixed quickly and no prob since. Circuit Board just blew now but have a warranty. Do these things have a timer to blow after warranty expirses? Genus aspect takes takes getting used to and tends to dry out food if not careful; just use a roasting bag. Overall genus good but does not work if used with an anti-spill cloth on the bottom.

We bought this (our 1st ever new oven) in 2007. It definitely works differently to std ovens. Judging by some other reviews we seem to have been lucky - ours has been totally reliable. (You never know how much heavy use or how people treat their stuff or if it was badly installed) It's not mentioned in the manual but the "Genus" function seems to be some kind of microwave effect - except that it works with metal dishes which you can't put in a microwave. This might explain the "sparking" mentioned in some reviews - we have noticed this but very rarely & only a little sparking. It's not a problem for us. The Genus takes a little getting used to. You need to read the manual! The handy "quick guide" is just a starting point - for convenience we cook pizzas on a different setting to the one they suggest (which burns them! - but you can alter temperatures to suit your dishes until you find what works) The oven is superb for bread baking - very quick! We are not chefs & are still learning what we can do with it. Slightly annoying - the temperature display is only for the oven & with the oven off shows the circuit board temperature - always about 18deg - not your room temp. The ONLY real problem with the Genus is the fan is VERY LOUD. Have to turn up radio a lot.. My sisters (Zanussi) is a good oven with a very quiet fan. I don't know why the Genus fan has to be so loud - we rang Customer service who weren't very helpful but that can be said of 1000's of companies. We leave the doors open to get it to cool down & stop the fan noise quicker. Now warranty has run out I'm looking into some way of modifying it or replacing with a quieter fan. For this reason I would only recommend it if you have a separate kitchen with a door! It's way too loud for kitchen-diner / open plan living. Just checked - NOW NO LONGER MADE but some spares available from "Stoves" website - hinges etc.

Bought mine 6 yrs ago. the concept was fantastic the reality very poor. firstly getting used to the genus cost lots in wasted meat products finding the correct timing. the guide was close but not exact. Secondly the unbreakable one dial operation broke. could not set a time or temperature. kept jumping to its own level. door keeps breaking. sparks keep appearing. thunderstorms shut it down very sad and it cost £1100. had it repaired at least 2 times a year for 6 years

I like the oven looks good need the manual does anyone have it please

Bought this in 2007 and immediately had problems, the door sign kept flashing. They came to repair, but a couple of months later door sign started flashing again. For the past few years we've got by using a match stuck into the connecting prongs, so they make contact.

Another disadvantage is that it is very loud when in use. We have to turn up the radio every time or else we can't hear it.

Last night the oven finally went kaput and I have just rung Stoves to find out about getting it fixed. The only option available is to pay £13.99 for 12 months and then they will send out someone to fix it. What a palaver - am off to look at a Neff.

i bought this oven in march 2007. the genus mode is very good, it cooks food in half the time of the conventional oven. the problems are relibility. it has had numerous electronic boards. it turns it self off and will not come back on. if the oven has not been used for some time it has to be re-programmed. so the relibility it far from good.

I have a 905F Great cooker when it works - PCB blew in October, still waiting for a new one, scheduled for late Feb if I'm lucky. Customer services are poor and although polite do little to resolve issues. I inadvertently ordered the wrong part, they are happy to refund(minus a £5 admin fee) but will take 3 weeks to send the address stickers by post and then another 3 from them recieving part to refund the cash by cheque! What is wrong with them? Farcical. I will never ever buy another Stoves cooker again. Just thinking about the number of pcbs that blow - suggested that this might be a design flaw given that excess heat makes it blow should there not be better insulation on them and shouldn't the parts and fitting be free given it is such a common occurrence...silence from customer service person. Followed by, "not sure what you mean?" I give up! Will probably end up buying a new cooker now.

This oven is completely useless. I have had it since November 1996, had everything changed 3 power supplies, 4 front pannels, door hinges, complete front oven door, new elements.

You cook in the conventional at 180 degrees it only reache 150, then it looks as though it does not know what to do as the temperature goes up and down to whatevey it wants to do, the grill comes on full, when your not around, very dangerous, turn this off from the wall is the best thing to do if your not around!

Got part money back for this item as it had a 5 year warrenty, I will certainly not be getting one of these ovens again, everything including the service is complete and utter useless! Stay well clear as they are still on sale although they have been discontinued!!